1988 Edition

Boundary disputes

none; Diego Garcia claimed by Mauritius

none; claims Frenchadministered Mayotte

none; maritime dispute with Australia; East Timor question with Portugal

southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims to Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya based on unification of ethnic Somalis

Climate

tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

hot, dry desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon (May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (Tangambili) between monsoons

Coastline

about 120 km

about 54 km

340 km

54,716 km

201 km

491 km

3,025 km

Comparative area

less than one-half the size of Washington, D.C.

slightly smaller than Washington, B.C.

about half the size of Delaware

about the size of Alaska and California combined

about the size of Rhode Island

about one and one-half times the size of Washington, D. C.

slightly smaller than Texas

Contiguous zone

12 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

edge of continental margin or 200 nm

Environment

consists of 2,300 islands

almost completely surrounded by a reef

soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; cyclones possible during rainy season

more than 13,500 islands; occasional floods; deforestation

periodic devastating cyclones

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible; 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Ethnic divisions

civilian inhabitants, known as the Hois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK and US defense facilities

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

majority of Malay stock comprising 45.0% Javanese, 14.0% Sundanese, 7.5% Madurese, 7.5% coastal Malays, 26.0% other

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Extended economic zone

200 nm

200 nm

200 nm

200 nm

Infant mortality rate

95/1,000 (1983)

26/1,000 (1983)

Labor force

67 million (1985 est.); 55% agriculture, 10% manufacturing, 4% construction, 3% transport and communications

1984 (est.) formal employment (all sectors) — 38.4 government, 30.7% parastatal, 30.8% private; formal employment (by sector) — 49.0% industry and commerce, 39.0% services, 11.5% agriculture, forestry, and fishing

Land boundaries

2,736 km total

2,263 km total

Land use

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

35% arable land; 8% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 16% forest and woodland; 34% other

8% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 67% forest and woodland; 15% other; includes 3% irrigated

20% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 39% other; includes 2% irrigated

4% arable land; 18% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 60% other

2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 46% meadows and pastures; 14% forest and woodland; 38% other; includes 3% irrigated

Language

Indonesian (modified form of Malay; official); English and Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese

English and French (official); Creole

Life expectancy

54

66

Literacy

62%

60%

Maritime claims

(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)

Nationality

noun — Comoran(s); adjective— Comoran

noun — Indonesian(s); adjective— Indonesian

noun — Seychellois (sing, and pi.); adjective — Seychelles

Organized labor

3 million members (claimed); about 5% of labor force

3 major trade unions

Population

no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000 islanders

415,220 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 3.32%

180,425,534; average annual growth rate 2.05%

67,552 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.52%

Religion

86% Sunni Muslim, 14% Roman Catholic

88% Muslim, 6% Protestant, 3% Roman Catholic, 2% Hindu, 1% other

90% Roman Catholic, 8% Anglican, 2% other

Special notes

Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean

located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

none

none

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

Terrain

flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Marie Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs, no fresh water, mostly uninhabited

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Territorial sea

3 nm

3 nm

12 nm

12 nm

12 nm

12 nm

200 nm

Total area

80 km2; land area: 80 km2

130 km2; land area: 130 km2

2,170 km2; land area: 2,170 km2

1,904,570 km2; land area: 1,811,570km2

2,510 km2; land area: 2,500 km2

280 km2; land area: 270 km2

637,660 km2; land area: 627,340 km2

Total area

5^.- \J Channel MayolM Administered by France .( claimed by Comoros

Ethnic divisions

61% Chinese, 25% Malay, 11% European, 3% other; no indigenous population

most of the population is of thoroughly intermixed ancestry of French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian origin

Labor force

all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Language

English

Nationality

noun — Christmas Islander(s), adjective — Christmas Island

noun — Reunionese (sing, and pi.); adjective — Reunionese

Population

2,243 (July 1987), average annual growth rate -0.76%

549,697 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.34%

Administrative divisions

28 first-level administrative subdivisions or provinces, which are further subdivided into 282 second-level areas

Branches

Advisory Council advises appointed administrator

executive headed by President who is chief of state and head of Cabinet; Cabinet selected by President; unicameral legislature (DPR or House of Representatives) of 460 members (96 appointed, 364 elected); second body (MPR or People's Consultative Assembly) of 920 members includes the legislature and 460 other members (chosen by several processes, but not directly elected); MPR elects President and Vice President and theoretically determines national policy; judicial, Supreme Court is highest court

President, Council of Ministers, People's Assembly

Capital

The Settlement

Jakarta

Victoria, Marie Island

Communists

none

Communist Party (PKI) was officially banned in March 1966; current strength about 1,000-3,000, with less than 10% engaged in organized activity; preOctober 1965 hardcore membership about 1.5 million

negligible, although some Cabinet ministers espouse pro-Soviet line

Elections

general election held June 1979 gave 98% approval to Rene as only presidential candidate on yes/no ballot; reelected in June 1984 with 92% of vote Political parties and leaders: Rene, who heads the Seychelles People's Progressive Front, came to power by a military coup in June 1977; until then he had been Prime Minister in an uneasy coalition with then President James Mancham, who headed the Seychelles Democratic Party; Rene banned the Seychelles Democratic Party in March 1978 and announced a new constitution in March 1979 that turned the country into a one-party state

Government leader

T. F. PATERSON, Administrator

Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO, President (since March 1968)

France Albert RENE, President (since June 1979)

Legal system

Australian territory since 10 October 1958; administrator appointed by Governor General of Australia; Supreme Court; legislative, judicial, and administrative system regulated by the Christmas Island Act of 1958

based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; constitution of 1945 is legal basis of government; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Member of

ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN, Association of Tin Producing Countries, CIPEC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDE— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU, NAM, QIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 August

National holidays

5 and 29 June

Official name

British Indian Ocean Territory British Indian Ocean Territory (continued)

Territory of Christmas Island

Republic of Indonesia

Republic of Seychelles

Other political or pressure groups

trade unions, Roman Catholic Church

Suffrage

universal over age 18 and married persons regardless of age Political parties and leaders: Golkar (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. Sudharmono; Indonesia Democracy Party (federation of former Nationalist and Christian Parties), Soeryad (chairman) and Nicholas Daryanto (secretary general); United Development Party (federation of former Islamic parties), John Naro

universal adult

Type

Australian territory

republic

republic; member of the Commonwealth

Voting strength

(1982 election) Golkar 64.1%, Unity Development 28%, Indonesia Democracy 7.9%

Agriculture

subsistence food production, and smallholder and plantation production for export; rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, copra, other tropical products; an illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade

islands depend largely on coconut production and export of copra; cinnamon, vanilla, and patchouli (used for perfumes) are other cash crops; food crops — small quantities of sweet potatoes, cassava, sugarcane, and bananas; islands not self-sufficient in foodstuffs and the bulk of the supply must be imported; fish is an important food source

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (1978-84), $232 million; US (FY78-85), $14 million; Communist countries (1970-85), $42 million

Budget

receipts, $10.5 billion; expenditures, $13.9 billion (1987/88)

(1984) revenues, $61 million; grants, $4 million; current expenditures, $64 million; capital expenditures, $11 million; net lending, $3.5 million

Electric power

11,000 kW capacity; 38 million kWh produced, 12,670 kWh per capita (1986)

10,800,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 170 kWh per capita (1986)

25,000 kW capacity; 59 million kWh produced, 880 kWh per capita (1986)

Exports

about 1.2 million metric tons of phosphate exported to Australia, New Zealand, and some Asian nations

$18.6 billion (1986); petroleum and liquefied natural gas, timber, rubber, coffee, tin, animal and vegetable oils, tea, copper

$4.5 million (f.o.b., 1985); fish, copra, cinnamon bark

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June

1 April-31 March

calendar year

Fishing

catch 2.2 million metric tons; shrimp exports $194 million, imports $4 million (1984)

GDP

$175 million, $2,670 per capita, real growth rate 6.0% (1985)

GNP

$85 billion (1986 est), about $510 per capita; real average annual growth, 3.6% (1981-85); real annual growth rate 0.0% (1986 est.)

Imports

$10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1985); wheat flour, wheat grains, and other cereals and cereal products, textiles, chemical products, iron and steel products, machinery, transport equipment

$90 million (f.o.b., 1985); manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transport equipment, and petroleum products

Major industries

phosphate extraction (near depletion)

petroleum, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer production, timber

tourism is largest industry; processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, small-scale manufacture of consumer goods, coir rope factory, tea factory

Major trade partners

Australia, New Zealand

(1984) exports — 47% Japan, 21% US, 9% Singapore; imports—23% Japan, 18% US, 12% Singapore, 11% Saudi Arabia, 4% FRG

exports — Pakistan, France, Reunion, UK, Mauritius; imports— Bahrain, UK, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, France

Monetary conversion rate

1.55 Australian dollars=US$l (November 1986)

1,648 rupiahs=US$l (November 1986)

5.99 Seychelles rupees=US$l (January 1987)

National resources

phosphates

Natural resources

oil, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper

fish, copra, spices

Airfields

1 usable with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439

436 total, 414 usable; 100 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m, 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 66 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

14 total, 14 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Army, Navy, Air Force, Militia

Civil air

about 150 major transport aircraft

2 major transport aircraft

Highways

119,500 km total

282 km total; 145 km bituminous, 137 km crushed stone or earth

Inland waterways

21,579 km; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan portion of Borneo 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, and Irian Jaya 4,587 km

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1986, $10 million, 10.3% of central government budget

Military manpower

males 15-49, 45,740,000; 26,513,000 fit for military service; 2,706,000 reach military age (18) annually

males 15-49, 16,000; 8,000 fit for military service

Pipelines

crude oil, 2,450 km; refined products, 456 km; natural gas, 450 km

Ports

Flying Fish Cove

15 ocean ports

1 port (Victoria); development underway will double capacity

Railroads

none

6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge, 78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; government owned

none

Telecommunications

4,000 radio receivers (1982) Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of Australia

interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair, international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 741,330 (est.) telephones (0.4 per 100 popl.); 618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV stations; 210 TV relays; 1 international satellite ground station (1 Indian Ocean antenna and 1 Pacific Ocean antenna), and a domestic satellite communications system Defense Forces

direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries; 9,100 telephones (13.6 per 100 popl.); 2 AM, no FM stations; 1 TV station; 1 Indian Ocean satellite station; USAF tracking station Defense Forces